Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot) by Christine Amsden Page A

week-and-a-half-long stay had been like. There seemed to be a general consensus that they had formed an instant friendship, kept to themselves, and acted like they were better than everyone else.
    After an hour or so, I wandered over to the boys’ side of the camp. Their cabins formed a similar circle around a bath house, but on the other side of the road and through a cluster of trees. Most of the boys were outside, playing volleyball or kicking around a soccer ball.
    Finding a break in the volleyball game, I asked after Jimmy and Ben. Two handsome boys on the other side of the net identified themselves and followed me a few yards away from the game, which had stopped while curious onlookers tried to figure out what was going on.
    I handed each boy one of my cards. “I’m trying to find out what happened to Regina and Laura, and I was hoping you could help.”
    Jimmy, slightly taller and leaner than his friend, scratched his head. “I don’t really know anything about it, except that they went missing yesterday.”
    “I didn’t think you would, but I’m trying to track down the source of a rumor about the girls and Mackenzie.”
    The boys glanced at each other and Jimmy scratched his head again. “Well, they’re always spending time together.”
    “Did you start the rumors?” I asked.
    Ben and Jimmy raced to top one another’s vehement negations.
    “So where did you hear about it?”
    “Her bunkmates,” Ben said. “They hated those girls, especially Sarah.”
    I groaned. Obviously, this line of questioning wasn’t going to work. “All right, thanks for your time. If you can think of anything that might help, let me know.”
    * * *
    It was dinnertime when I returned to the mess hall, making the place, if possible, even more chaotic. Now campers were mixed in with the deputies, counselors, friends, and relatives. A noxious odor hit me the moment I entered the room, killing my appetite.
    Vera sat at a table with Nora and Tracy Webster, as well as deputies Jeff and Hank. She motioned for me to join them so I did, marveling that any of them could stomach the greasy gray mush giving off such a foul odor. One lump could have been mashed potatoes with gravy, but I had never seen gravy quite that color before.
    “You can have some dinner if you like,” Nora said, sounding very put out by the offer.
    “That’s all right,” I said. “I’m not hungry.”
    “Well, here, at least have something to drink.” Jeff reached behind him to a long table full of cans of soda and bottles of water. He handed me a water.
    “Thanks.” I took the bottle, but didn’t drink right away. I was busily scanning the table to see how the people there were holding up. Vera seemed to be attacking her food, as if violence would beat the greasy stuff into submission. Or perhaps she took her grief out on food. Since I’ve been known to do that, I could relate, although I did usually try for more edible fare.
    Nora looked even more tired than before. She ate sparingly, but she kept looking at the door, perhaps in anticipation of the search party that would come with actual news. I couldn’t forget that in the morning, with no news or probably with bad news, the camp would shut down.
    Tracy Webster had a plate full of food in front of her, but she ignored it, instead staring out at a distant spot through the large windows. Every once in a while, Vera would send her counterpart a dirty look.
    “Mrs. Webster,” I said, wondering if I could get her attention at all. She didn’t seem to notice.
    Vera rolled her eyes at me. “Too bad I can’t fall apart like that. By the way, I worked out what Regina was wearing. The only things missing from the clothes I sent with her were a pair of long black sweat pants and a black t-shirt.”
    That was at least a little interesting. It seemed to corroborate my suspicion – that the girls had snuck out of the cabin for some reason. Going out in the middle of the night in all black was a sure sign